Guide To San Francisco’s Summer Street Fairs & Festivals

San Francisco is home to a terrific group of street fairs and festivals, where city blocks shut down for families, food trucks, entertainment, artists, and more. Check out our guide to this season’s most fun events, slap on some SPF, and hit the streets.

In its 37th year, The Union Street Festival is one of San Francisco’s largest free annual events. This family-friendly event launches the City’s summer street festivals with more than 100,000 attendees in the heart of historic Cow Hollow San Francisco’s premiere shopping and residential district. This year’s festival will feature over 150 boutique artists from across the country offering for sale unique works of art. Two stages of continuous live light entertainment will offer smooth jazz and original musical works by the best of the Bay Area’s hardest working indie bands. The Festival is held on San Francisco’s fashionable Union Street where historic Victorians have been transformed into popular boutiques, art galleries and restaurants. Parking is available three blocks from the event site. Secure Valet Bike Parking is provided.

Since 1978, the Haight-Ashbury Street Fair has produced the annual street fair that features arts and crafts, food booths, three musical stages, a Family Area (Children’s Alley) and more! It also serves as a means for community groups and mercantile vendors to interact with the public and expand their base. Bust out that old tie-dye and wander the Haight, where every Summer is the Summer of Love.

The North Beach Festival
Saturday & Sunday, June 15 and 16, 2013
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
North Beach District
San Francisco, CAWebsite

The North Beach Festival is considered one of the country’s original outdoor Festivals. The event is situated in the historic North Beach District, known to locals and visitors alike as San Francisco’s Little Italy and the home of the famed beat generation. The Festival site includes numerous quaint streets in the heart of the district including Grant Avenue and Columbus Avenue. The 2013 event will feature over 125 arts and crafts booths, 20 gourmet food booths, two stages of live entertainment, Italian street painting, beverage gardens, kid’s chalk art area and the blessing of the animals. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to participate in this San Francisco tradition which is known nationally and internationally.

Blending art and soul in one of the country’s most unique neighborhoods, the Fillmore Jazz Festival is the largest free Jazz festival on the West Coast, drawing over 100,000 visitors over the Independence Day weekend. From sunup to sundown, visitors can groove to the sounds of live music from multiple stages, browse the offerings of over 12 blocks of fine art and crafts and enjoy gourmet food and beverages. Asian to Cajun, paintings to pottery, old favorites and new directions, the Fillmore Jazz Festival is not to be missed.

A woman takes a photo of a group of naked men at the 20th Annual Folsom Street Fair September 28, 2003 in San Francisco. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images).

The Folsom Street Fair is a true San Francisco original. With over 400,000 people in attendance covering 13 city blocks, the Fair is the largest leather/fetish event in the world and the third largest, single-day outdoor event in California. Folsom Street Events is thrilled to celebrate the Folsom Street Fair with style and a week’s worth of truly outstanding events and programs over the course of San Francisco Leather Week. This event is Rated R. That’s putting it mildly.